Ben Campbell is a young, highly intelligent, student at M.I.T. in Boston who strives to succeed. Wanting a scholarship to transfer to Harvard School of Medicine with the desire to become a doctor, Ben learns that he cannot afford the $300,000 for the four to five years of schooling as he comes from a poor, working-class background. But one evening, Ben is introduced by his unorthodox math professor Micky Rosa into a small but secretive club of five. Students Jill, Choi, Kianna, and Fisher, who are being trained by Professor Rosa of the skill of card counting at blackjack. Intrigued by the desire to make money, Ben joins his new friends on secret weekend trips to Las Vegas where, using their skills of code talk and hand signals, they have Ben make hundreds of thousands of dollars in winning blackjack at casino after casino. Ben only wants to make enough money for the tuition to Harvard and then back out.
Taglines: - Inspired by the true story of five students who changed the game forever. - They proved the Vegas Blackjack System was beatable...by beating the hell out of it.
Continuity: During the first meeting with Ben, the cards that Micky deals alternate from face up, face down, and missing altogether.
Continuity: When Ben's mom is serving birthday cake to Ben and his friends, she serves Cam twice.
Continuity: When Ben is handed his earnings from the first night a five dollar bill is seen on the outside of the bundle. Moments later a $100 is on the outside.
Continuity: During the opening credits, while Ben is riding his bike on the road, you see the same orange PT cruiser go past twice and the same silver Chrysler 300C go past three times.
Continuity: During the opening scene montage, when Ben is riding his bike across the bridge, the position of his backpack changes several times.
Continuity: When Prof Rosa calls Cole, Terry answers the phone and places Rosa on hold. However, when Cole takes the phone from Terry, he does not take Rosa off of hold and proceeds to talk to him.
Continuity: When Mickey and Ben are walking through the park before the first trip, there is no one behind them. The camera changes and there is a woman walking her dog and another man.
Continuity: The first night the group gambles in Las Vegas they are in the Hard Rock Casino, however the table at which Ben gambles says "Red Rock Casino". When he switches tables it says "Hard Rock Casino."
Continuity: When Ben meets with Mickey and the group for the first time, he explains the basic rules of 21 and deals himself a face-up card, then the camera cuts to Ben then back to Mickey and now Mickey's card is face down.
Continuity: In the shot of Ben counting cards on the first arrival in Vegas, Ben's tray is down. If the plane is as close to arriving as the view from the window shows, the trays would have to be in the "up and locked" position.
Continuity: During the chase seen at the end of the movie Kate Bosworth's character alternates between running in heels and running barefoot.
Continuity: When Ben is riding his bike on the bridge, a young guy with a lady are passing in the back stage. After this, when a yellow stripped bus passed behind Ben, that young guy and lady disappeared (it seems, they jumped into water) then another lady in white jacket appears who was absent before in the back stage.
Plot holes: In two separate places in the film, the player is hollering for the dealer to draw a "monkey" (a face card or a ten) when, in fact, a monkey would have given the dealer a winning hand. The first instance is when an Asian woman introduces the main character to the slang. The more egregious of the two instances is when the main character (who, by this time in the film, has established his big player credentials) calls out for a monkey twice when either of those times would have given the dealer a winning hand.
Crew or equipment visible: When Ben leaves the Hard Rock Hotel after their first night in Vegas, the shadow of the Cameraman and Camera on the dolly are visible on the hotel front and security guards in the background.
Factual errors: In the scene were we first see Ben in the casino playing for the first time, the count is +18. We then see a face card (worth 10) appear and Ben wins. Micky then asks him what the count is. He says +18, but it's really +17 because a face card has a value of -1.
Revealing mistakes: All the cards in the casino scenes have rounded corners opposite the index numbers, identifying them as used cards that have since been removed from use on the casino floor and altered so they can never be sneaked back into play.
Errors made by characters (possibly deliberate errors by the filmmakers): When Miles shows Ben the source code of the robot, Ben looks at them and immediately says this is very good. Actually, even a highly experienced programmer could not understand a source code just by looking at it for 2 seconds, especially the code of a really complex system such as this robot.
Micky Rosa: Choi, you made five grand last night. So would you stop stealing 9 cent pens and everything you can get your hands on from the maid's cart. It's embarrassing! -- Micky Rosa: [to Ben about card counting] What were going to do is perfectly legal and they can't do a single thing about it. [very next scene: in a concrete room, bare bulb lights, a fist hits a guy who's strapped to a chair: he's bleeding/sweating] Cole Williams: You think you can beat the system? [shows guy his meaty fist] Cole Williams: This *is the system*... *beating you back* Cole Williams: You wanna count cards, you do it in Atlantic City! Get him up. Terry: [growling] Let's go. Get up! On your feet! Cole Williams: Count to five. Count to five! Card Counter: [disillusioned] What? Cole Williams: Count to five so that you don't have brain damage, you can go home. Terry: Start with One. Card Counter: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5. Cole Williams: Good. Now... stop counting! -- Choi: [laughing and taking a video while Ben is goofing off as a new persona in the mirror] No please, keep going, this video's priceless! -- Ben Campbell: [after Jill wakes him up when their plane arrives in Boston] I seem to be waking up to you a lot. Jill Taylor: Don't get used to it. -- Micky Rosa: [while Choi is stealing everything that isn't nailed down in the hotel room] *Hey!* You steal The Bible, you go to Hell. Those are the rules. Choi: Like I'm not going anyway. -- Ben Campbell: [in regards to Mickey Rosa inviting him to the Blackjack team] So why are you telling me? Micky Rosa: Well, let's just say a spot opened up on our roster. Ben Campbell: How? Micky Rosa: Jimmy got a job at Google. Ben Campbell: Jim... Jimmy got a job at Google? Micky Rosa: Yeah, it's catchy, I know. Ben Campbell: Well, if you're making so much money at this then why did he take it? Micky Rosa: Ben, I said Google, not Sizzler. -- Ben Campbell [Last Lines]: I had a 1590 on my SAT, I got a 44 on my MCAT, and I have a 4.0 GPA from MIT. I thought I had my life mapped out, but then I remembered what my non linear equations professor once told me, always account for variable change... I let down my good friends, but as it turns out, they weren't too bad at simple math either. I scored the prettiest girl in school. I got beaten down by an old school Vegas thug who was having trouble accepting his retirement, but I worked out a deal with him that got him a nice pension... And I lied to my mother, but I confessed a lie and well, she still loved me... So my senior year of college I joined this team and I learned this new skill. I went to Vegas 17 times to use it. I made hundreds of thousands of dollars counting cards. And then I had it all stolen from me, twice... How's that for life experience professor? Did I dazzle you? Did I jump off the page? -- Micky Rosa: He says, "Ben, do you want to stay with door number one or go with door number two?". Now, is it in your interest to switch your choice? Ben Campbell: Yeah. Micky Rosa: Well wait, the host knows where the car is. So how do you know he's not trying to play a trick on you - trying to use reverse psychology to get you to pick a goat? Ben Campbell: Well I wouldn't really care. I mean, my answer's based on statistics - based on variable change. Micky Rosa: Variable change? But he just asked you a simple question. Ben Campbell: Yeah, which changed everything. Micky Rosa: Enlighten us. Ben Campbell: Well, when I was originally asked to pick a door, I had a 33.3% chance of choosing right. But after he opens one of the doors and re-offers me the choice, it's now 66.7% if I choose to switch... So yeah, I'll take door number two and thank you for the extra 33.3%. Micky Rosa: Exactly. People, remember - if you don't know which door to open, always account for variable change. Micky Rosa: Now see, most people wouldn't take the switch, out paranoia, fear, emotions. But Mr. Campbell, he kept his emotions aside and let simple math [in a game show host voice] Micky Rosa: get his ass into a brand new car!... Which is better than that goat you've been driving around campus...
An alternate ending was shot, where Mickey Rose evaded capture from Cole Williams. After retirement, Cole spots Mickey gambling on a boat and the two trade stories about their past.
Storyline: During experiments to find a cure for Alzheimer's disease, a genetically-enhanced chimpanzee uses its greater intelligence to lead other apes to freedom.
The orangutan character befriended by Caeser in prison is named Maurice after actor Maurice Evans, who played the orangutan Doctor Zaius in the original Planet Of the Apes (1968).
This is the second film in which Andy Serkis plays an ape, having previously portrayed 2005's version of King Kong. He was also the motion capture actor for Gollum in Lord of the Rings, where he bites off Frodo's finger. His ape character Caesar bites the neighbor's finger in this role, too.
The name given to Caesar's mother is "Bright Eyes" due to the coloration in her eyes caused by the ALZ-112 virus. "Bright Eyes" is the name given to Taylor (Charlton Heston) by Dr. Zira (Kim Hunter) in the original Planet of the Apes.
In one scene, Caesar is shown handling a 3D puzzle of the Statue of Liberty, in reference to the the ending of the original Planet of the Apes.
In one scene under the vault, Ceasar is taking the pose of The Thinker, by french sculptor August Rodin.
Caesar uses a bundle of sticks to explain to Maurice how an ape alone is weak but apes together are strong. The bundle of sticks, or fasces, was a symbol of authority in ancient Rome, the origin of Caesar's name. Caesar's charisma is also reminiscent of Benito Mussolini, who adopted the fasces as the symbol of his Italian Fascist party. The fasces or bundle of sticks concept is also used in several symbols in the architecture of the American White House and Captiol and is the subject of the Aesop fable "The Bundle of Sticks" about a father demonstrating to his sons how they should work together:
Caesar: [to Maurice in sign language] Ape alone... weak. Apes together strong. Maurice: [to Caesar in sign language as they observe their fellow captive apes] Apes stupid.
Factual errors: Koba is a bonobo, this species of ape is not aggressive and the males don't lead the troop, females lead. Factual errors: Primates' vocal cords are too low in the throat to make certain vowel sounds and thus, are unable to talk aside from guttural vocalizations. Factual errors: When Caesar's mother is shown playing with a puzzle, it is referred to as the "Tower of Lucas." The puzzle is actually known as the "Tower of Hanoi," invented in 1883 by french mathematician Edouard Lucas.
Steven Jacobs: You used an untested drug on your father. I could end your career with one phone call. Will Rodman: Let me save you the trouble. I quit.
Dodge Landon: Take your stinking paws off me you damn dirty ape! Caesar: NO!
Tagline:I'm a Teacher. I'm a Singer. I'm a Writer.
That's What I Am is a drama film starring Ed Harris and Chase Ellison. The film is directed by Michael Pavone. Its release date was April 29, 2011 in limited release, having been released on DVD about four weeks later.
Set in California against the backdrop of the mid-sixties, That's What I Am is a coming-of-age story that follows 12-year-old Andy Nichol (Chase Ellison), a bright student who, like most kids his age, will do anything to avoid conflict for fear of suffering overwhelming ridicule and punishment from his junior high school peers. Everyone's favorite teacher, Mr. Simon (Ed Harris), pairs Andy with the school's biggest outcast and social pariah, Stanley aka "Big G" (Alexander Walters), on a critical school project. Sporting thick orange hair, a head too big for his body and ears too big for his head, "Big G" has been the object of ridicule since grade school. Before long, Andy will learn that there was truly a method behind Mr. Simon's madness as to why he teamed these two up. After a dramatic incident in the schoolyard, teachers and parents rethink their roles in school and society. Principal Kelner (Amy Madigan) suspends a school bully for brutally beating up a female classmate. The vindictive father of the bully makes Mr. Simon the target of a malicious rumor about his sexuality, causing Mr. Simon to question his calling as an educator and mentor to his students. When Andy watches "Big G" fearlessly confront the school bully about the incident, a series of events are triggered. Much to Andy's surprise, he learns that "Big G" is a brilliant, kind, tolerant human being, who has more dignity than anyone Andy has ever encountered. Big G personifies Mr. Simon's four word answer on how to obtain world peace.
Andy Nichol: Why would God do that, mom? Make someone look like Big G? So that everyone makes fun of him? Sherri Nichol: Maybe because God didn't see anything wrong with him in the first place. And Andy... His name is Stanley.
Hanna (Ronan) is a teenage girl. Uniquely, she has the strength, the stamina, and the smarts of a soldier; these come from being raised by her father (Bana), an ex-CIA man, in the wilds of Finland. Living a life unlike any other teenager, her upbringing and training have been one and the same, all geared to making her the perfect assassin. The turning point in her adolescence is a sharp one; sent into the world by her father on a mission, Hanna journeys stealthily across Europe while eluding agents dispatched after her by a ruthless intelligence operative with secrets of her own (Ms. Blanchett). As she nears her ultimate target, Hanna faces startling revelations about her existence and unexpected questions about her humanity.
The script was listed on both the 2006 and 2009 Black List, an annual list of the best unproduced screenplays of the year.
Such was the physicality of Saoirse Ronan's role, her combat tactics called for 4-hour days of intense training under Dan Inosanto (a Bruce Lee protégé) over a two month period at his L.A. gym.
A former CIA agent was brought in to consult the character of Cate Blanchett.
Hanna: Adapt or die. Erik: Think on your feet. Hanna: Even when I'm sleeping.
---
Sebastian: So Hanna, is your Mom and Dad still together? Hanna: My mother is dead Sophie: Nice one Dad Sebastian: I'm sorry to hear that. I lost my mom when I was very young, so... Hanna: It's alright, it happened a long time ago Rachel: Hanna, what did your Mom die of? Hanna: Three bullets... [Sebastian chokes on his wine]
Joel: Is there any risk of brain damage? Howard: Well, technically speaking, the operation is brain damage, but it's on a par with a night of heavy drinking. Nothing you'll miss.
[last lines] Joel: I can't see anything that I don't like about you. Clementine: But you will! But you will. You know, you will think of things. And I'll get bored with you and feel trapped because that's what happens with me. Joel: Okay. Clementine: [pauses] Okay.
Clementine: Maybe you can find yourself a nice antique rocking chair to die in.
Clementine: Hi! Joel: Excuse me? Clementine: I just said hi. Joel: Oh! Hi, hello. Clementine: I'm Clementine... No jokes about my name. Joel: I don't know any jokes about your name. Clementine: Huckleberry Hound. Joel: I don't know what that is. Clementine: Huckleberry Hound! [singing] Clementine: Oh my darling, oh my darling, oh my darling Clementine. Joel: I don't know what that means. Clementine: Are you NUTS? Joel: It's been suggested.
Joel: [in the house on the beach] I really should go! I've gotta catch my ride. Clementine: So go. Joel: I did. I thought maybe you were a nut... but you were exciting. Clementine: I wish you had stayed. Joel: I wish I had stayed too. NOW I wish I had stayed. I wish I had done a lot of things. I wish I had... I wish I had stayed. I do. Clementine: Well I came back downstairs and you were gone! Joel: I walked out, I walked out the door! Clementine: Why? Joel: I don't know. I felt like I was a scared little kid, I was like... it was above my head, I don't know. Clementine: You were scared? Joel: Yeah. I thought you knew that about me. I ran back to the bonfire, trying to outrun my humiliation. Clementine: Was it something I said? Joel: Yeah, you said "so go." With such disdain, you know? Clementine: Oh, I'm sorry. Joel: It's okay. [Walking Out] Clementine: Joely? What if you stayed this time? Joel: I walked out the door. There's no memory left. Clementine: Come back and make up a good-bye at least. Let's pretend we had one. [Joel comes back] Clementine: Bye Joel. Joel: I love you... Clementine: Meet me... in Montauk...
Joel: Sand is overrated. It's just tiny, little rocks.
[Mary reads to Dr. Mierzwiak out of "Bartlett's Familiar Quotations"; the lines are from Alexander Pope's poem "Eloisa to Abelard"] Mary: How happy is the blameless vestal's lot! / The world forgetting, by the world forgot / Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! / Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd.
Joel: I could die right now, Clem. I'm just... happy. I've never felt that before. I'm just exactly where I want to be.
[as Joel and Clementine eat out, he thinks about the other glum-looking couples in the restaurant] Joel: Are we like couples you see in restaurants? Are we the dining dead?
Clementine: Drink up, young man. It'll make the whole seduction part less repugnant.
Joel: I can't remember anything without you. Clementine: That's sweet, but try.
[first lines] Joel: [voice over] random thoughts for Valentine's day, 2004. Today is a holiday invented by greeting card companies to make people feel like crap.
Clementine: Wish me a happy Valentine's Day when you call. That'd be... nice!
Clementine: You're not a stalker, or anything, right? Joel: I'm not a stalker. YOU'RE the one that talked to me, remember? Clementine: That is the oldest trick in the stalker book. Joel: Really? There's a stalker book? Great, I gotta read that one.
Clementine: You're really nice... God, I have to stop saying that!
Joel: I had a really nice time last night. Clementine: Nice? Joel: I had the best fucking night of my entire fucking life, last night! Clementine: Thaaaat's better!
Joel: [on tape recording] And the whole thing with the hair - it's all bullshit. Joel: I really like your hair. Clementine: Thank you.
Clementine: And in your little brain. You try to figure out, "Did she fuck someone tonight?" Joel: No, see Clem. I assume you fucked someone tonight. Isn't that how you get people to like you?
A couple undergo a procedure to erase each other from their memories when their relationship turns sour, but it is only through the process of loss that they discover what they had to begin with. Voted movie of the year by Empire magazine in 2004. Won an oscar for Best Writing, Original Screenplay and another 36 awards
The title is quoted from the poem "Eloisa to Abelard" by Alexander Pope (1688-1744). This poem was used in Charlie Kaufman's earlier project Being John Malkovich. The movie is based on the following quote from an Alexander Pope poem, "How happy is the blameless vestal's lot! The world forgetting, by the world forgot. Eternal sunshine of the spotless mind! Each pray'r accepted, and each wish resign'd."
When Joel is in his head and is visiting his session of the erasing process, no special effects were used to show the two Joels in the one scene. Jim Carrey had to take off his hat and jacket when he was not in shot and had to quickly sit down in the chair and visa-versa when he has to stand up.
The memory-erasing company, Lacuna Inc., takes its name from the Latin word meaning a cavity, hollow, or dip, especially a pool or pond. Transfiguratively, lacuna comes to mean a gap, deficiency, or loss. The term "lacunar infarct" refers to a stroke that involves a small area of the brain responsible for a specific function, or ever a specific memory. Additionally, in papyrology (the study of ancient manuscripts) a lacuna is a hole where part of the text is missing, and which can sometimes be re-constructed.
All of the train shots were shot onboard a real, moving, train.
The computer used during the procedure is actually an Amstrad PPC (Portable Personal Computer) from the early 1990s.
Clementine: I don't need nice. I don't need myself to be it, and I don't need anybody else to be it at me.
Joel: If only I could meet someone new. I guess my chances of that happening are somewhat diminished, seeing that I'm incapable of making eye contact with a woman I don't know.
